CM to table Sindh budget today
Sindh Assembly Session. PHOTO: NNI
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will present the Rs1,730 billion Sindh budget before the Sindh Assembly for the 11th time on Saturday (today).
The election year budget is likely to see an increase of 30 per cent in salaries and 17 per cent in pension. Provision of various public welfare projects including development projects for flood victims, eradication of poverty, providing maximum relief to the people, development of agricultural sector and promotion of agricultural industry and industrial development, providing ease in business and investment will be announced in the budget session of the Sindh Assembly to be held on June 10 at 4pm.
The government of Sindh has allocated Rs4.10 trillion for the annual development programme in the budget of the new financial year 2023-24. The development budget includes more than Rs100 billion for foreign-aided projects for Karachi.
Around Rs291.727 billion have been allocated for 3,311 ongoing schemes in the province and Rs88.273 billion rupees have been allocated for 1,937 new schemes. The foreign aid component of the budget for development schemes has increased from Rs91.47 billion in 2022-23 to Rs266.69 billion 2023-24. Sindh Police Department has proposed an additional grant of Rs12 billion to strengthen CTD, Special Branch and Investigation wings besides Rs1 billion for purchase of modern weapons. Police have also demanded increase in the health allowance.
The budget has proposal to allocate Rs2.5 billion for the establishment of houses for the poor in Sindh, Rs75 million for the provision of livestock to poor families, and Rs10 billion for the repairs and establishment of orphanages besides Rs100 million for Old Age Homes and Rs15 billion for Sindh Peoples Support Programme.
In the budget, the Sindh government will announce the establishment of universities or university campuses in seven districts including Korangi, Karachi West, Kemari, Malir, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Alahyar and Sujawal.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2023.